Device for dispensing a concentrate into a liquid without exposing the concentrate to the atmosphere

ABSTRACT

A device which can dispense a composition such as a pesticide, herbicide, fungicide, or other toxic composition into a liquid such as a solvent without exposing the composition to the atmosphere. The device comprises a jacket having a perforated top and an open bottom; a container having an open top which is sized to be removably retained within the jacket; a means for breaking a seal over the top of the container only after the container has been sealingly engaged within the jacket; a means for sealingly engaging the container and the jacket after the container has been inserted a predetermined distance into the jacket; and a graspable element coupled to the base of the container for allowing the container to be manipulated when the container is retained within the jacket.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

My invention relates to the dilution of a concentrate. More specificallymy invention relates to the dispensing of a concentrate into a liquidwithout exposing the chemical to the open atmosphere.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Potentially toxic compositions such as pesticides, herbicides andfungicides are generally sold as either a dilute ready-to-use solutionor a dilutable concentrate. The ready-to-use solutions are safer andeasier to use as the composition is provided in dilute form and do notrequire additional handling, while the concentrated solutions are lessexpensive as they don't require the shipping and handling of largeamounts of water.

Accordingly, a substantial need exits for a device which can combine thebenefits of both the ready-to-use solutions and the concentratedsolutions by dispensing concentrated, potentially toxic compositionsinto a liquid without exposing the concentrate to the open atmosphere.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an expanded prospective view of one embodiment of myinvention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional front view of my invention as embodied inFIG. 1 wherein container 30 is inserted a distance into jacket 20 suchthat jacket 20 and container 30 are sealingly engaged but the seal 60over the top of container 30 is unbroken.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional front view of my invention as embodied inFIGS. 1 and 2 wherein container 30 has been completely inserted intojacket 20 and rotated such that seal 60 over the top of container 30 isperforated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

My invention is a device which can dispense a composition such as apesticide, herbicide or fungicide into a liquid without exposing thechemical to the atmosphere. By preventing the composition from beingexposed to the atmosphere during dilution, my device prevents therelease of noxious fumes and prevents direct contact with theconcentrated composition.

Broadly, my device comprises: (i) a jacket which defines a cylindricalcavity and has an open base and a perforated top; (ii) a cylindricalcontainer which has an open top and is sized to be removably retainedwithin the cavity defined by the jacket; (iii) a means for breaking aseal over the top of the container only after the container has beensealingly engaged within the jacket; (iv) a means for sealingly engagingthe container and the jacket after the container has been inserted apredetermined distance into the jacket so as to prevent the flow ofliquid between the sidewalls of the jacket and the container; and (v) agraspable means for allowing the container to be manipulated when thecontainer is retained within the jacket.

The jacket is housed within and sealingly coupled to a dilution vesselsuch that the cavity defined by the jacket is readily accessible throughthe concentric open base of the jacket and an opening in the vessel.

To use, a sealed container containing the composition to be dispensed isinserted into the cavity defined by the jacket such that the sealingmeans has sealed the jacket and the container but the means for breakingthe seal on the container has not perforated the seal over thecontainer. The vessel is filled with liquid. The container is completelyinserted into the cavity defined by the jacket such that the means forbreaking the seal on the container punctures the seal on the container.Finally, a container is rotated relative to the vessel such that theopening means may rip or cut open the seal on the top of the containerand release the composition into the liquid.

My device may be reused by removing and replacing an empty containerwith a fresh, composition-containing, sealed container and repeating thedispensing procedure. However, the vessel must be empty before replacingthe container as removal of the container from the jacket allows bothcomposition and liquid to flow freely out of the vessel through thejacket.

DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION INCLUDING A BEST MODE

My invention dispenses a composition into a liquid such as a solventwithout exposing the composition to the atmosphere. This is useful whendispensing chemicals which are deactivated upon exposure to sunlight orthe atmosphere, which release noxious fumes, or which are potentiallytoxic. A nonexhaustive list of compositions which may be usefullydispensed in my invention includes tetrahydrofuran which forms excessiveperoxide upon exposure to the atmosphere; oncological drugs which aretoxic; and pesticides, herbicides and fungicides which are potentiallytoxic and release noxious fumes. While not intending to be limitedthereby, my invention is particularly useful in dispensing pesticides,herbicides and fungicides into water just prior to use.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1-3, my invention 10 is employed inconjunction with a dilution vessel 100 which defines a dilution chamber101 and has an opening 102 in its base 103 through which my invention 10is employed.

My invention 10 comprises a jacket 20 and a container 30. Container 30preferably comprises a sleeve 50 removably encompassing a receptacle 40.The two piece container combination 30 simplifies reuse of my invention10 as only the inexpensive receptacle 40 need be replaced to reuse thedispenser 10.

The top 22 of jacket 20 is perforated so that liquid retained withinvessel 100 may freely flow into and out of cavity 21 defined by jacket20. At least one sharpened projection 26 extends downwardly from the top22 of jacket 20 into cavity 21. A shoulder 27 extends from sidewall 23into cavity 21 proximate the top 22 of jacket 20 so as to define anupper portion 21a of cavity 21 having a smaller diameter than a lowerportion 21b of cavity 21. At least one protuberance 28, preferably twolaterally opposed protuberances 28, project inwardly from sidewall 23 ofjacket 20 into cavity 21. Protuberances 28 are shorter than shoulder 27so that they do not completely prevent container 30 from being insertedinto cavity 21.

Jacket 20 is sealingly coupled to base 102 of vessel 100 proximate thebottom 24 of jacket 20 such that opening 103 in the base 102 of vessel100 and opening 25 in the bottom 24 of jacket 20 are concentric alonglongitudinal axis 120 and cavity 21 is freely accessible throughopenings 103 and 25. Preferably, jacket 20 and vessel 100 are intricallycoupled so as to form a single unit.

Receptacle 40 has an open top 41 through which receptacle 40 may befilled with the composition to be dispensed 200. Preferably, receptacle40 has an outer circular flange 42 proximate the top 41 thereof forcontacting the top 52 of sleeve 50 when receptacle 40 is placed therein.Receptacle 40 also has preferably has an inner circular flange 43proximate the top 41 thereof upon which a seal 60 may be seated. Theopen top 41 of receptacle 40 may be sealed by any of a variety of wellknown sealing means but is preferably sealed with a metallized polyestersuch as MYLAR™ adhesively bonded to flange 43.

Sleeve 50 has an open top 52 and defines a bore 51 into which receptacle40 may be securely inserted to form container 30.

An outer, circular, downwardly sloping flange 53 extends from sidewall54 of sleeve 50 proximate the top 52 of sleeve 50. Flange 53 sealinglyengages jacket 20 when it is forcibly inserted into the upper portion21a of cavity 21. The decrease in the diameter of cavity 21 caused byshoulder 27 forces flange 53 to constrict and sealingly engage jacket20. The upper portion 54a of sleeve 50 has a smaller outer diameter thanthe lower portion 54b so that the upper portion 54a may fit within theupper portion 21a of cavity 21 which has a smaller diameter than lowerportion 21b and outer flange 53 does not sealingly contact jacket 20until container 30 is substantially within cavity 21.

L-shaped channels 55 are recessed into sidewall 54 of sleeve 50 foraccepting protuberances 28. The L-shaped channels 55 have a horizontalportion 55a and a vertical portion 55b. The L-shaped channels 55 andprotuberances 28 act together to stabilize and control the insertion ofcontainer 30 into jacket 20. Protuberances 28 extend into and slidealong the vertical portion 55a of the L-shaped channels 55 whilecontainer 30 is being inserted into jacket 20. Protuberances 28 extendinto and slide along the horizontal portion 55b of the L-shaped channels55 after container 30 has been completely inserted within jacket 20 andis rotated relative to jacket 20.

Lock channels 59 extend horizontally from the vertical portion 55a ofthe L-shaped channels 55 slightly above and in the opposite direction ofthe vertical portion 55b of the L-shaped channels 55. Lock channels 59are vertically positioned such that when protuberances 28 extend intolock channels 59, flange 53 sealingly contacts jacket 20 but sharpenedprojections 26 do not contact seal 60.

The bottom 56 of sleeve 50 is recessed and has a gripable element 57extending into recess 58. Gripable element 57 allows container 30 to bemanipulated when container 30 is completely retained within jacket 20.Gripable element 57 should not extend beyond recess 58 so that it doesnot affect the ability of container 30 to rest in an upright position.

Preferably, base 102 of vessel 100 is concave such that when container30 is inserted into jacket 20 so that protuberances 28 extend intolocking channels 29, vessel 100 may stably rest in an upright positionupon its base 102 despite the extension of a portion of container 30 outfrom the base 102 of vessel 100.

In operation, a sealed receptacle 40 containing composition to bedispensed is placed within sleeve 50 to form a container 30; container30 is aligned with jacket 20 such that protuberances 28 extend into thevertical portion 55a of the L-shaped channels 55; container 30 is slidinto jacket 20 until protrusions 28 are horizontally aligned withlocking channels 59; container 30 is rotated until protuberances 28 abutthe distal end 59a of locking channels 59; lid 103 of vessel 100 isremoved; vessel 100 is filled with liquid; lid 103 is replaced;container 30 is rotated so that protuberances 28 once again extend intothe vertical portion 55a of the L-shaped channels 55; container 30 iscompletely slid into jacket 20 until protuberances 28 are horizontallyaligned with the vertical portion 55a of the L-shaped channels 55 andsharpened projections 26 pierce seal 60 on the container; and container30 is rotated until protuberances 28 contact the distal end 55c of thehorizontal portion 55b of the L-shaped channels 55. The final rotationof container 30 rips or cuts seal 60 open with projections 28 andreleases composition 200 into the liquid (not shown). Composition 200migrates out of receptacle 40 through broken seal 60 and out of cavity21 through perforated top 22 of jacket 20.

If desired, vessel 100 may be agitated to hasten the release of chemical200 into the liquid.

My invention 10 and vessel 100 may be constructed of any material whichcan withstand extended contact with the composition to be dispensed.Typically, my invention 10 and vessel 100 may be constructed of a sturdyplastic such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and the like. When plasticmay not be employed due to its interaction with the composition to bedispensed, invention 10 and vessel 100 may be constructed of glass.However, when invention 10 and/or vessel 100 are constructed of glassthe sealing means (flange 53) may require some adaptation as glass isnot as flexible as plastic.

Invention 10 and vessel 100 may be sized to fit any desired and use. Forexample, the home use of herbicides may require a half pint container 30and a half gallon vessel 100 while industrial use of herbicides mayrequire a gallon container and a thousand gallon vessel 100.

The specification above is presented to aid in the complete nonlimitingunderstanding of the invention. Since many variations and embodiments ofthe invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

I claim:
 1. A device for dispensing a substance into a liquid, whichcomprises:(a) a jacket defining a right circular cylindrical cavity andhaving, a perforate top, an open bottom, a side wall, and an inner sidewall surface; (b) a cylindrical container for retaining the substance tobe dispensed; the container sized to fit within the cavity defined bythe jacket and having, an open top, a bottom, a longitudinal axis, aside wall, and an outer side wall surface; (c) a means for opening thecontainer when the top of the container is sealed; the opening meansunsealing the container only when the container is substantiallycompletely inserted into the cavity defined by the jacket and thecontainer is rotated about its longitudinal axis relative to the jacket;(d) a means for sealing a gap between the outer surface of the containerwall and the inner surface of the jacket wall after the container isinserted an established distance into the cavity defined by the jacket;the sealing means sealing the gap prior to the opening means unsealingthe container; and (e) a graspable element coupled to the containerwhich allows the container to manipulated when the container is retainedwithin the cavity defined by the jacket.
 2. The device of claim 1further comprising:(a) an L-shaped channel in the side wall of thecontainer which has a horizontal portion and a vertical portion; (b) aprotuberance extending inwardly from the side wall of the jacket andinto the cavity defined by the jacket such that the protuberance willextend into and traveling along the vertical portion of the L-shapedchannel when the container is inserted into the cavity and extend intoand traveling along the horizontal portion of the L-shaped channel whenthe container is rotated about its longitudinal axis relative to thejacket.
 3. The device of claim 2 further comprising a lock channelextending horizontally from the vertical portion of the L-shaped channelin a direction opposite the horizontal portion of the L-shaped channel;the lock channel being vertically positioned such than when theprotuberance is positioned within the lock channel the sealing means issealing the gap between the outer surface of the container wall and theinner surface of the jacket wall but the opening means has not unsealedthe container.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein the sealing meanscomprises:(a) an inner projecting shoulder proximate the top of thejacket which reduces the diameter of the top portion of the cavity; and(b) a downwardly sloping outwardly projecting circular flange proximatethe top of the container.
 5. The device of claim 2 wherein the sealingmeans comprises:(a) an inner projecting shoulder proximate the top ofthe jacket which reduces the diameter of the top portion of the cavity;and (b) a downwardly sloping outwardly projecting circular flangeproximate the top of the container.
 6. The device of claim 1 furthercomprising a vessel which defines a chamber and has openable top, abase, and a appature in the base and houses the jacket within thechamber defined thereby; the vessel and the jacket sealingly engage atthe periphery of the bottom of the jacket such that the open bottom ofthe jacket and the appature in the base of the vessel are concenntricsuch that the container may be inserted into the cavity defined by thejacket through the open bottom of the jacket and the appature in thebase of the vessel.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the containercomprises an inner receptacle for retaining the substance to bedispensed separably retained within an outer sleeve.
 8. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the opening means comprises a sharpened projectionextending vertically downward from the top of the jacket into thecavity.
 9. The device of claim 1 wherein the sealing means comprises:(a)an inner projecting shoulder proximate the top of the jacket whichreduces the diameter of the top portion of the cavity; and (b) adownwardly sloping outwardly projecting circular flange proximate thetop of the container.